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The Actor’s Perspective | Ian Short – Mr. Darcy, Mr. Collins

On the Book…
I first read the novel Pride and Prejudice to prepare for the role of Mr. Darcy and Mr. Collins. It kind of felt like a homework assignment at the time and I made a plan to read one chapter a day, whether I wanted to or not. I read three chapters the first day (they’re short) and immediately became so invested, that I finished the book two days later. It’s one of my favorite books now, and I’m looking forward to reading it again soon.

Working with Daniel Kramer…
After reading the novel, I had a newfound appreciation for the play that Daniel had created. If you are well versed in the story and come to see this play, you will find almost nothing has been lost in this translation. He captures all of the humor, the deep personal relationships and the strict rules governing society at the time. He also manages to interject various external sources, such as Jane Austen’s personal letters, blog posts about the book, and even the merchandising (t-shirts, comic books, coffee mugs, etc.). All of these peripheral sources enhance the story being told, rather than distracting from it.

Favorite Scene…
It’s a tie between Darcy’s first proposal and when Darcy and Elizabeth meet at Pemberly. The proposal scene is a joy for an actor to play. It’s a confession of love, a vicious rejection and a heated argument where the two characters reveal all the things they have been thinking and feeling about the other. It is beautifully written dialogue, and the emotions underneath are sincere and powerful.

The second scene, where Darcy surprises Elizabeth and her relatives while they are visiting Pemberly is enjoyable because I get to shift gears with the character and reveal a different side to Darcy. I get to show how he’s grown over the months since seeing Elizabeth. I personally enjoy softening the sharp edges of the character I had been portraying earlier in the show.

On working with Available Light Theatre…
As a founding company member, I have worked with the entire cast, and our director, on multiple productions and each show is a new and exciting experience. We all know each other very well, but we don’t let that familiarity become complacency. We are constantly helping each other learn and grow as artists. One of the unique aspects of doing this show is that Eleni has incorporated our offstage friendships into the production. In the play, the actors sometimes break character and comment on the scene. We’ve made these diversions very playful and in terms of attitude, we’ve let a lot of our own history with each other seep in.